Dr. George Bagby, MD, an orthopedic surgeon from Spokane, Wash., and inventor of the “Bagby Bone Basket” or “Seattle Slew Basket” – made famous when it was implanted into the neck of Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew to prolong his life – died on Dec. 12 at the age of 93.

Bagby and equine surgeons Dr. Pamela (Wagner) vonMatthiessen and Dr. Barrie Grant pioneered the surgery in the late 1970s along with other members of the Washington State University veterinary staff. Bagby would soon collaborate with spine surgeon Dr. Stephen Kuslich of the Mayo Clinic and convert the technique for human use in lower back surgery. Today the BAK implant is commonly used in surgery on people with degenerative discs and spines.

Top Washington sire Delineator was humanly put to rest in early December 2016 due to the infirmities of old age. Pensioned after the 2011 breeding season, the son of Storm Cat stood his entire career at the Woods family’s Woodstead Farm in Chehalis.

From the third crop of the then unproved Storm Cat – who would lead the nation’s sire ranks in 1999-2000) – Delineator was purchased by future Emerald Downs founder Ron Crockett for $72,000 out of the 1992 Keeneland September Yearling Sale (Note: Storm Cat’s yearlings averaged $74,050 that year). He would be one of two graded stakes winners Crockett would purchase at that auction, and one of five he has raced so far.

Turned over to trainer Fordell Fierce, Delineator won three of his six starts as a juvenile. After breaking his maiden in his initial outing by 2 1/2 lengths in a Bay Meadows maiden special weight race in September, Delineator won the Leland Stanford Stakes at San Mateo track by four and then took the Grade 3 Generous Stakes, a mile turf race at Hollywood Park, by nearly two lengths. For each of his wins he had Russell Baze in the saddle. He finished third in the Grade 3 California Juvenile Stakes, also run at Bay Meadows. His record and $190,650 earnings gave him an SSI of 21.61 and an 118 pound ranking on the year-end Experimental Free Handicap. Champion Dehere and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Brocco topped the list at 125.

At three, Delineator won a Golden Gate Fields allowance and finished second in Bay Meadows’ John Peri Stakes. His final record after two years of racing was 5-2-1 from 14 starts and he had $263,225 in earnings.

At the time of Delineator's retirement in late 1994, plans were in the works to build a new racetrack in Washington, and Crockett, in his goal to help promote Washington breeding, retired Delineator to stud to Woodstead Farm where he stood his first season in 1995.

Delineator was the top racehorse from the five winners produced out of the winning *Grey Dawn II mare Mountain Climber. His second dam, Matron Stakes (G1) winner Alpine Lass, by Bold Ruler (making Delineator 4x3 to the nine-time leading North American sire), was a full sister to stakes winner Irish Castle and stakes-placed Irish Stronghold, who both became sires. Delineator’s third dam, the *Tuylar mare Castle Forbes, won or placed in 13 stakes at two and three, the majority of which are graded races today. She was named the co-champion two-year-old filly of 1963 along with Tosmah. Her $359,366 in earnings gave her an SSI of 33.51. This is also the direct female line of broodmare of the year Shenanigans, dam of the great filly Ruffian and stakes winners and successful sires Icecapade and Buckfinder.

In his 17 crops, Delineator sired 336 foals of which his 267 starters produced 185 winners of $7,723,915. This currently ranks him in third place among stallions that stood their entire career in Washington and that had runners in 2016. Among his 19 stakes winners – which includes Dr. Vincentstein who took a Quarter Horse stakes at Turf Paradise last February – and 12 stakes-placed runners, was Washington horse of the year and Grade 1 winner Tali’sluckybusride and state champions and graded stakes winners Fast Parade and Edneator – who won the 2000 Longacres Mile (G3).

Lance Williams, stable manager for Ron Crockett Inc., remembers him well. “Delineator was a special racehorse for Ron Crockett, providing him his first graded stakes win in the 1993 Generous Stakes and later, as a stallion, giving many breeders and owners the thrill of owning a state champion, a graded stakes winner or a track record holder.”

That sucks. From his photo, he appears to be the best-looking son of Giant's Causeway I've seen. I hope his last crops excel.
I see in the Comments after the Bloodhorse article that Harris Farms also just lost Huntsville. Bad times for the CA farm.

JUST JACK had a heart attack in the stretch of the Jennings Handicap at Laurel today. He was a barn favorite and from what I know was a very sweet horse. I have a photo of him I will post as soon as they are uploaded. Jockey Alex Cintron was on the ground for a while but he is okay.